Device for platting and measuring curves



Nov. s, 1932. J ARAS 1,881,391

DEVICE FCR PLATTING AND MEASURING CURVES Filed May 8. 1951 Patented Nov. 8, 1932 P U'Nueile 'STATES :PArEur-y I' Y JnANAnAsyoF nULU'rn,MiNNEsoTAj Diivioi'i non PLATTING AND MEASURING oimvn's.

Y Appiicaeion sieri May 8, 1931. "serali Ne. 536,042.`

Y The invention relatesto theart of platting and measuring curves and has reference more particularly vto an adjustable curved ruler.

5 An object of the invention is to provide an improved ruler, protractor or the like, adjustable to different curves, and to provide such devices with means for indicating i the degree of curvature in any adjustment i@ of the device out of a straio'ht line'.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character, which will be simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture, efficient in use, easv to operate and E5 control, and one which will fulllall requirements of service.

`With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain A' novel features of construction and operao tion, as will be more fully described and pai'- ticularlyT pointed out in the` specification, drawing and claims appended hereto.

In the drawing, which illustratesan emj bodiment of the device and wherein like reforence characters are used to designate like parts- Figure l is a side elevational view of the device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device with the ruler adjusted to form a curve;

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4 4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken along line 5-5 of Figure 1.

The device as illustrated comprises a ruler 10 or strip of flexible meta-l having rigidly secured to its ends end members 12 and 14 respectively, of right angled form. Extending inwardly from the members 12 and 14 ,.,g are reinforcing strips 16, serving to reinforce the flexible strip l0.

An indicating bar 18 is provided having formed on one face adjacent one end of the same a plurality of indications 2O directly i under which are provided numbers for the Vv n n u n indications respectively. The construction formsascale on'the'indieatingbar 18, the

markings 2O sliowingthe ldegree of curvature which the ruler 10 mayassume while the numbers show the value of the degreeV of curvature. The member .12is pivotally se? cured to the left hand endoftheindicating bar by means of therivet stud 22,l Figure'', While at the right handy end "the indicating bar'is provided with a slide 24fin the formof a channel shaped member adapted to be mounted in adjusted position onl vthebar byy mea-ns of the cover 26 and set's'c'rew 28 threaded therein. 'To the slide 24 isV pivotally secured the right hand member 14, as shown in Figure 5, so that, the ruler 10 can be' given a` degree ofcurvature by merelysliding-the slide 24along theindicating'bar 18.' The end members 12 and 14V are rigidlysecured to the under surface of the ruler lOfat the respective ends of the-same and with the i' lower ends of the members pivoted,;they' will assume a certainV angular relationship with the indicating bar 18 for any particularV curvature of the ruler l0, but it is to be especially noted that the'members will provide a tangent to thecurve' for any curvature.

' The normal'tendency ofthe flexible ruler, when the pivoted ends of the same'are confined and moved towards eachother, is to flex to a greater extent in the middle and to form a lparabolica'l curve rather than atrue arc Vof a circle. lin order to correct the vcurvature of the ruler, since it is desirable at tim-es to secure a true arc, and to sustain the'ruler vin any adjusted curvatureV the same is provided with depending braces 29 pivotedito the I ruler :by 'means of Vangle members -8'0 itu assume a vertical position, that is, should the braces be extended they Would intersect the bar 18 so as to form right angles. The angular relationship of the links Will of course vary for any curvature, but will be substantially parallel to every adjusted portion of the ruler 10.

It is obvious that the improvements in the adjustable curved ruler may be embodied in various forms Without departure from the essentials of the invention, the particular arrangement resulting in a simple device Which is very valuable to draftsmen and others for ruling curves of large radii. In operation the slide 24 is moved along the bar 18 until the inner edge of cover 26 is in alignment with that particular indication 20 to secure the desired degree of curvature. The vsetscreW 28 is then tightened to hol-d the member in position. The links 32 can, during this procedure, be maintained in loose contact with their respective braces and can subsequently beheld rigid to the braces by a tightening of the Winged nuts 36, which Will function to maintain all of the braces and other links in set relationship with the flexible strip or ruler. f

Itis to be understood that I do not Wisl to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by Way of illustration and not limitation, as Various and other forms of the device Will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: f

1. An adjustable ruler of the character described including a flexible strip, right angular members secured to the ends thereof, an indicating bar, one member being pivotally secured to one end of the bar, a slide adjustably mounted on said bar, means pivotally securing the other member to said slide, and means for maintaining the curvature of the strip-in adjusted position including braces pivotally secured to and depending from the strip at spaced points, links connecting the braces, and means for holding the links and braces in adjusted position.

2. An adjustable ruler of the character described including a flexible strip, end members rigid With the ends of said strip, said members comprising right-angled forms, an indicating bar, means pivotally securing one end member to one end of said bar, a slide mounted for movement on the other end of the bar, and a set screw pivotally securing the other end member to said slide, said set screw also serving to Vadjustably secure the slide on the bar. Y

3. An adjustable ruler of the character described including a flexible strip, rightangled members secured to the ends thereof, an indicating bar, one member being pivotally secured to one end of the bar, a slide otally secured to one end of the bar, a slide adjustably mounted on said bar, means pivotally securing the other member to said slide, and means for maintaining the curvature of the stripin adjusted position, including braces extending from the strip at spaced points, links connecting the braces, and means for holding thelinks and braces in adjusted position.

Signed at Duluth, Minnesota, this 28th day of April, 1931.

JEAN ARAS. y

CD f 

